MLB

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Scott Rolen went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and two runs scored, as the Cincinnati Reds used a five-run fifth inning to down the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-4, in the opener of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Brandon Phillips drove in two runs and scored once for the Reds, who were coming off a seven-game homestand in which they went 5-2. Joey Votto went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Jonny Gomes had a pair of hits and knocked in a run.

Johnny Cueto (10-10) went five innings, allowing two runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and no walks to take the win for Cincinnati, which started a six-game road trip on Tuesday. Cueto, who is in his second season in the big leagues, reached 10 wins for the first time in his career.

"Johnny, he gave us five innings," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "And our offense came through big time tonight."

Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs batted in for the Pirates, who fell to 3-16 in September. Ronny Cedeno and Robinzon Diaz each had an RBI. Lastings Milledge went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in defeat.

The Pirates secured their third consecutive last place finish in the NL Central by losing for the 21st time in 24 games.

Zach Duke (10-15) lasted six frames, giving up five runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and a walk to take the loss for Pittsburgh. Duke is 0-4 in his last five starts.

"Nobody likes to lose. We have to come back tomorrow and get ready, and hopefully this will turn around," said Pirates manager John Russell.

McCutchen's leadoff homer to left in the first inning gave the Pirates an early edge.

Cincinnati stranded a runner on second in the second, third, and fourth.

Pittsburgh added a run in the fourth to build a two-run margin. Milledge stroked a one-out single and came racing home on Cedeno's double to left.

The Reds exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. Darnell McDonald singled, Ramon Hernandez singled, and Drew Stubbs walked to load the bases with one out. Paul Janish then grounded into a fielder's choice. Hernandez came around to score on Ryan Doumit's throwing error.

Votto followed with an RBI double before Phillips laced a two-run single to center. Phillips went to second on the throw home, stole third, and scored on Rolen's ground-rule double to left.

In the bottom half, Garrett Jones, who hit a two-out single, was thrown out at the plate on Ryan Doumit's double.

The Pirates scored once in the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-3. Daniel Ray Herrera started the inning on the mound for the Reds and gave up a one-out double and single before being replaced by Ramon Ramirez. After Cedeno went down swinging, pinch-hitter Diaz stroked an RBI double to right.

RBI base hits from Rolen, Gomes, and pinch-hitter Juan Francisco in the seventh gave Cincinnati an 8-3 lead. Rolen hit an RBI double and Jay Bruce laced a run-scoring single in the eighth to make it a 10-3 game.

McCutchen forced in a run when he worked a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth.